West Midlands flair and innovation for all things automotive is helping to drive a revival of Britain’s motorcycle industry, with one regional manufacturer powering it towards an electrifying future.
After being virtually wiped out by foreign competition in the 1970s, the industry’s spiritual home is once again attracting international attention following the return of some of Britain’s most legendary marques.
Triumph, Norton, BSA and Royal Enfield are all building or designing bikes in the Midlands and now there’s a new name on the scene – Maeving – the UK’s only electric motorcycle manufacturer.
Based in Coventry, the city that kickstarted the industry more than a century ago, its fusion of retro design and innovative green technology has caught the eye of investors including Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands.
He has contributed £500,000 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO) towards an £11m package to help Maeving grow its overseas sales in key markets like North America and Europe.
The mayor joined Rupert Lyle from Future Planet Capital Regional, which manages WMCO investments, at Maeving’s factory in Sibree Road to see the bikes roll off the production line.
The mayor: “Maeving represents the very best of West Midlands innovation. And there is nowhere better than Coventry – the original beating heart of the British motorcycle industry – for them to set up and write a new success story.
“Motorcycle production is a proud part of Coventry’s identity. Maeving means its future in Coventry is bright.
“This investment shows that the green industrial revolution is happening in the West Midlands, creating high-quality jobs for local people and cementing our place as a dynamic exporter and a leader in advanced manufacturing."
Support for fast growing sectors like advanced manufacturing and green technology is at the heart of the mayor’s West Midlands Growth Plan, which sets out to boost the region's economy by £17 billion over the next decade, creating 100,000 good jobs, 120,000 new homes, improved public transport and higher living standards.
And with almost 75% of all the parts used in Maeving’s bikes manufactured in the UK, the company is also helping to drive growth and jobs across the automotive supply chain.
In the UK, the company’s motorbikes are outselling electric models from all other manufacturers, including Chinese imports and big names like Kawasaki and BMW. It has seen revenues quadruple since 2023, with its RM1S model being named Electric Bike of the Year 2025 by Motorcycle News.
Co-founders Will Stirrup and Sebastian Inglis-Jones have designed the bikes with removable batteries that charge from any standard plug socket, making them a practical option for commuting and leisure.
Sebastian said: "From day one, our vision for Maeving was to bring electric motorcycle manufacturing to the West Midlands, building on the region’s incredible heritage.
“We believe electric motorcycles have the potential to radically transform our cities for the better, making them cleaner, quieter, cheaper, and healthier places to live, and we’re immensely proud to be the leading electric motorcycle manufacturing company in the UK.
“The support from the Fund isn't just financial; it's an endorsement of our vision for a green revolution in personal transport, and it means we can create more high-skilled, high-paid jobs right here in Coventry
